Submitted by Barb
Braswell
Bridgeton, MO
Supplies Needed: blue plastic tarp
(approximately 6 foot), colored duct tape (red or
yellow), clear plastic page protectors, visual aids of
prayer needs and bean bags
How to make:
Divide the tarp into sections using the duct tape.
Secure a clear plastic page protector to the center of
each section. Insert visuals into the page pockets to
show various areas of needs to pray for.
For example:
Missions - Foreign Missions map, specific
missionaries, specific countries Addiction/sin -
pictures showing someone smoking, deliverance, bondage
of sin Pastoral staff/church leadership - for
their personal needs, families, and ministries.
The great thing about the pockets is you can change out
the information for a never ending supply of topics to
pray for.
How to use: The
basis of the prayer mat is you throw a bean bag and
whatever section that it lands on is what you pray for
depending on what is in the pocket for that section.
With the older children it is probably best that they
stand on the opposite side of the room and one by one
let them throw the bean bag and then let that child walk
forward to see the information in the page pocket and
lead in prayer. This gives them the challenge of getting
to actually throw the bean bag without getting too
aggressive with other children around them. Encourage
them to toss underhand rather than throwing overhand to
ensure a tamer throw. If you are using this with smaller
children you might want to let them all stand or sit
around the mat and then give each child a turn to stand
up and then toss the bean bag gently down on the tarp.
Having some prayer
starter ideas included in each area helps to give
the children an idea of what they can pray for. Some
children feel confident enough with the information
provided to lead in prayer for that need. Other children
may want you to discuss the visual aid and give them
some verbal ideas of what to pray for before they
actually start. Some children may be too shy or
uncomfortable enough with praying about that specific
need that they may wish for you to lead the prayer and
then the class repeat after you.
It is also useful to have
several options available within each section so
that if that particular section is chosen repeatedly
then you have a variety of things to pray for.
Example: Have a
page that shows your church leadership. You might wish
to include Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Music Leader, Youth
Pastor, Secretary, etc. This way, if the children land
on this section multiple times during your prayer mat
time you can pray several prayers for the various
leaders without repeating the prayers.
An alternate idea
would be to put items in the page pockets that are
connected and carry through a theme such as “Back to
School”. Specific things to pray for concerning back to
school could be: building – protection from danger, bus
- safety as they/from school, school supplies - but my
God shall “supply” all your needs according to His
riches in Glory, Bible - that God’s word would be hidden
in their hearts and that they could be witnesses to
friends at school, friends - pray for their friends and
the needs that they might be facing in their families or
the struggles that they might have, Math/Science - that
God would help them to make good grades, to understand
what is being taught, and to overcome temptation to be
lazy and not do homework or the temptation to cheat. |
